THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK

Photograph by Wiswall

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

FRANKLIN K. LANE, Secretary a g 2

7, 1 44 1 t < °: 0 -g £ -a o f

2 o -1 - H 60 D a O v> 7, £ T| Pkotoirafh by H. T. Cowling FALL RIVER ENTRANCE TO THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK 2 £ 0 a «^ ys "TOP OF THE WORLD" O a 7 PH

Q w OR many years the Mecca of Eastern mountain lovers has been the 2 -2 I Rockies. For many years the name has summed European ideas to > ] of American mountain grandeur. Yet it was not until 1915 that £2 "o p< .a I a particular section of the enormous area of magnificent and diver­ 60 sified scenic range thus designated was chosen as the representative of the no­ < - blest qualities of the whole. This is the Rocky Mountain National Park. * S And it is splendidly representative. In nobility, in calm dignity, in the £ -£ sheer glory of stalwart beauty, there is no mountain group to excel the company His « a of snow-capped veterans of all the ages which stands at everlasting parade

CO 1- < o behind its grim, helmeted captain, Longs Peak. a -B a a There is probably no other scenic neighborhood of the first order which com­ 1- .3 _a bines mountain outlines so bold with a quality of beauty so intimate and refined. 1 § Just to live in the valleys in the eloquent and ever-changing presence of these v. LL, carved and tinted peaks is itself satisfaction. But to climb into their embrace, •St uw =q to know them in the intimacy of their bare summits and their flowered, glaciated 1 gorges, is to turn a new and unforgettable page in experience. g The park straddles the continental divide at a point of supreme magnificence. to Its eastern gateway is beautiful Estes Park, a valley village of many hotels from

to which access up to the most noble heights and into the most picturesque recesses O of the Rockies is easy and comfortable. Its western entrance is Grand Lake. Photograph by II. T. Cowling Photograph by II. T. Cowling ODESSA LAKE IS ALMOST ENCIRCLED BY SNOW-SPATTERED SUMMITS SPRUCE-GIRDLED FERN LAKE, SHOWING LITTLE MATTERHORN IN MIDDLE DISTANCE Photograph by John King Sherman THE CHISELED WESTERN WALL OF LOCH VALE PRECIPICE-WALLED GORGES

DISTINGUISHED fea­ ture of the park is its profusion of cliff-cradled, glacier-watered valleys unexcelled for wildness and the glory of their flowers. Here grandeur and romantic beauty compete. These valleys lie in two groups, one north, the other south of Longs Peak, in the angles of the main range; the northern group called the Wild Garden, the southern group called the Wild Basin. There are few spots, for instance, so impressively beautiful as Loch Vale, with its three shelved lakes lying three thousand feet sheer be­ low Taylor's Peak. Adjoining is Glacier Gorge at the foot of the precipitous north slope of Longs Peak, holding in rocky embrace its own group of three lakelets. The Wild Basin, with its wealth

Photograph by John King Sherman of lake and precipice, still remains FEW MOUNTAIN GORGES ARE SO IMPRESSIVELY BEAUTIFUL AS LOCH VALE CHASM LAKE AND LONGS PEAK unexploited and known to few. LOOKING INTO THE PARK FROM THE TWIN SISTERS LATE AFTERNOON YIELDS GOOD CATCHES

Photograph by Agnes IF. Faille LONGS PEAK, FROM A SMALL LAKE AT THE ENTRANCE TO GLACIER GORGE, SHOWING ITS PRECFFTTOUS WESTERN SIDE Photograph by J. Burns Photograph by II. T. Cox-ling ICE FLOES BREAKING FROM THE HALLETT GLACIER ICEBERG LAKE LIES 2,000 FEET BELOW TRAIL RIDGE

Photograph by II. T. Coaling To KNOW THEM IN THE INTIMACY OF THEIR BARE SUMMITS IS T© TURN AN UNFORGETTABLE PAGE IN THE BOOK OF EXPERIENCE Looking from Flattop across the Tyndall Glacier Gorge to the windy summit of Hallett Peak MIDWAY OF THE RANGE, LONGS PEAK REARS HIS STATELY, SQUARE-CROWNED HEAD; A VERITABLE KING OF MOUNTAINS CALMLY OVERLOOKING ALL HIS REALM This is the very heart of the Rockies; few photographs so fully express the spirit of the Snowy Range THE KING AND HIS KINGDOM

HE Snowy Range lies, roughly speaking, north and south. From valleys 8,000 feet high, the peaks rise from 12,000 to 14,000 feet. Longs Peak measures 14,255 feet. The gentler slopes are on the west, a region of loveliness, heavily wooded, diversified by gloriously modeled mountain masses, and wa­ tered by many streams and rock-bound lakes. The western entrance, Grand Lake, is a thriv­ ing center of hotel and cottage life. On the east side the descent from the con­ tinental divide is steep in the extreme. Preci­ pices two or three thousand feet plunging into gorges carpeted with snow patches and wild

flowers are common. Seen from the east-side Photograph by George II. Ilarecy villages, this range rises in daring relief, craggy GRAND LAKE FROM THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE in outline, snow-spattered, awe-inspiring. Midway of the range and standing boldly forward from its western side, Longs Peak rears his lofty, square-crowned head. A veri­ table King of Mountains—stalwart, majestic. Amazingly diversified is this favored region. The valleys are checkered with broad, flowery opens and luxuriant groves of white- stemmed aspens and dark-leaved pines. Sing­ ing rivers and shining lakes abound. Frost- sculptured granite cliffs assume picturesque shapes. Always some group of peaks has caught and held the wandering clouds. Very different are the mountain vistas. From the heights stretches on every hand a tumbled sea of peaks. Dark gorges open un­ derfoot. Massive granite walls torn from their fastenings in some unimaginable upheaval in ages before man impose their gray faces. Far in the distance lie patches of molten silver which are lakes, and threads of silver which are rivers, and mists which conceal far-off val­

leys. On sunny days lies to the east a dim Photograph by II. T. Cowling Photograph by linos Milts CACHE LA POUDRE VALLEY AT FOOT OF SPECIMEN MOUNTAIN MOUNT CLARENCE KING sea which is the great plains. METROPOLIS of BEAVERLAND

\ HE visitor will not forget the aspens in the Rocky Mountain National Park. Their white trunks and branches and their luxuriant bright green foliage are never out of sight. I' A trail through an aspen thicket is a path of delight. Because of the unusual aspen growths, the region is the favored home of beavers, who make the tender bark their principal food. Beaver dams block countless streams and beaver houses emerge from the still ponds above. In some retired spots the engineering feats of gener­ ations of beaver families may be Photograph by Enos Mills traced in all their considerable range. BEAVER DAMS BLOCK COUNTLESS STREAMS Nowhere is the picturesqueness of timber-line more quickly and more easily seen. A horse after early breakfast, a steep mountain trail, an hour of unique enjoyment, and one may be back for late luncheon. Eleven thousand feet up, the winter struggles between trees and icy gales are grotesquely exhibited. The first sight of luxuriant En- gelman spruces creeping closely upon the ground instead of rising a hun­ dred and fifty feet straight and true as masts is not soon forgotten. Many stems strong enough to partly defy the winters' gales grow bent in half circles. Others, starting straight in shelter of some large rock, bend at right angles where they emerge above it. Many succeed in lifting their trunks but not in growing Copyright by IViswall Brothers, Denver branches except in their lee, thus sug­ AN ASPEN THICKET TRAIL IS A PATH OF gesting great evergreen dust brushes. Photograph by Enos Mills DELIGHT WIND-TWISTED TREES AT TIMBER-LINE fhotograpk by Enos Mills RECORDS OF THE GLACIERS

FEATURE of this region is the read­ ability of its records of glacial action during the ages when America was making. In few other spots do these evidences, in all their variety, make themselves so prominent to the casual eye. There is scarcely any part of the eastern side where some enormous moraine does not force itself upon passing atten­ tion. One of the valley villages, Moraine Park, is so named from a moraine built out for miles across the valley's floor by an­ cient parallel glaciers. Scarcely less prominent is the long curving hill called the Mills Moraine, after Enos Mills, the naturalist, who is known in Colorado as "the father of the Rocky Mountain National Park." In short, this park is itself a primer of glacial geology whose simple, self-evident lessons im­ mediately disclose the key to one Copyright by Wiswall Brothers, Denver Photograph by H. T, Cowling FALL RIVER AT THE CLOSE OF DAY MOONLIGHT ON GRAND LAKE of nature's chiefest scenic secrets. 'SI L> O 2 o a O

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Photograph by George C. Barnard, Denver AN IDEAL COUNTRY FOR WINTER SPORTS THE NATIONAL PARKS AT A GLANCE

Arranged chronologically in the order of their creation

[Number, 14; Total Area, 7,290 Square Miles]

AREA NATIONAL PARK in and Date LOCATION square DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS miles

HOT SPRINGS RESER­ Middle iyi 46 hot springs possessing curative properties—Many hotels VATION Arkansas and boarding-houses in adjacent city of Hot Springs— 1832 bath-houses under public control.

YELLOWSTONE North­ 3,348 More geysers than in all rest of world together—Boiling 1872 western springs—Mud volcanoes—Petrified forests—Grand Canyon Photograph by II. T. Cowling Wyoming of the Yellowstone, remarkable for gorgeous coloring— THE STANLEY HOTEL Large lakes—Many large streams and waterfalls—Vast wilderness inhabited by deer, elk, bison, moose, antelope, bear, mountain sheep, beaver, etc., constituting greatest wild bird and animal preserve in world—Altitude 6,000 to EASY TO REACH AND TO SEE 11,000 feet—Exceptional trout fishing. YoSEMITE Middle 1,125 Valley of world-famed beauty—Lofty cliffs—Romantic vistas I89O eastern —Many waterfalls of extraordinary height—3 groves of HE accessibility of the Rocky Mountain National Park is apparent California big trees—High Sierra—Large areas of snowy peaks— by a glance at any map. Denver is less than thirty hours from Waterwheel falls—Good trout fishing. Chicago and St. Louis, two days only from New York. A half day SEQUOIA Middle 237 The Big Tree National Park—12,000 sequoia trees over 10 feet 1890 eastern in diameter, some 25 to 36 feet in diameter—Towering from Denver will put you in Estes Park. California mountain ranges—Startling precipices—Fine trout fishing. Once there, comfortable in one of its many hotels of varying range of tariff, GENERAL GRANT Middle 4 Created to preserve the celebrated General Grant Tree, 35 and the summits and the gorges of this mountain-top paradise resolve them­ 1890 eastern feet in diameter—six miles from Sequoia National Park and California under same management. selves into a choice between foot and horseback. MOUNT RAINIER West 324 Largest accessible single-peak glacier system—28 glaciers, There are also a few most comfortable houses and several somewhat primi­ 1899 central some of large size—Forty-eight square miles of glacier, tive camps within the park's boundaries at the very foot of its noblest scenery. Washington fifty to five hundred feet thick—Remarkable sub-alpine wild-flower fields.

CRATER LAKE South­ 249 Lake of extraordinary blue in crater of extinct volcano, no 1902 western inlet, no outlet—Sides 1,000 feet high—Interesting lava for­ Oregon mations—Fine trout fishing.

MESA VERDE South­ 77 Most notable and best-preserved prehistoric cliff dwellings in 1906 western United States, if not in the world. Colorado

PLATT Southern iH Sulphur and other springs possessing curative properties— 1906 Oklahoma Under Government regulations.

GLACIER North­ 1,534 Rugged mountain region of unsurpassed Alpine character— 1910 western 250 glacier-fed lakes of romantic beauty—60 small glaciers Montana —Peaks of unusual shape—Precipices thousands of feet deep—Almost sensational scenery of marked individuality •—Fine trout fishing.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN North 358 Heart of the Rockies—Snowy range, peaks 11,000 to 14,250 1915 middle feet altitude—Remarkable records of glacial period. Colorado

National Parks of less popular interest are:

Sully's Hill, 1904, North Dakota Wooded hilly tract on Devil's Lake. Wind Cave, 1903, South Dakota Large natural cavern. LONGS PEAK INN; ALTITUDE 9,000 FEET Casa Grande Ruin, 1892, Arizona Prehistoric Indian ruin. Longs Peak (14,255 feet) in the center of the triple mountain group, flanked by Mount Meeker on the right and Mount Lady Washington on the left; across their fiont is the Mills Moraine HOW TO REACH THE NATIONAL PARKS

The map shows the location of all of our National Parks and their principal railroad connections. The traveler may work out his routes to suit himself. Low round-trip excursion fares to the American Rocky Mountain region and Pacific Coast may be availed of in visiting the National Parks during their respective seasons, thus materially reducing the cost of the trip. Trans­ continental through trains and branch lines make the Parks easy of access from all parts of the United States. For schedules and excursion fares to and between the National Parks write to the Passenger Departments of the railroads which appear on the above map, as follows:

ARIZONA EASTERN RAILROAD ------Tucson, Ariz. ATCHISON, TOPEKA & SANTA FE RAILWAY ------1119 Railway Exchange, Chicago, 111. CHICAGO & NORTH WESTERN RAILWAY ------226 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, 111. CHICAGO, BURLINGTON & QUINCY RAILROAD CO. - 547 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, 111. CHICAGO, MILWAUKEE & ST. PAUL RAILWAY ------Railway Exchange, Chicago, 111. COLORADO AND SOUTHERN RAILWAY ------Railway Exchange Building, Denver, Colo. DENVER & Rio GRANDE RAILROAD CO. ___--_- Equitable Building, Denver, Colo. GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY ----- Railroad Building, Fourth and Jackson Streets, St. Paul, Minn. GULF, COLORADO & SANTA FE RAILWAY ------Galveston, Texas. ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD ___-____--_ Central Station, Chicago, 111. MISSOURI PACIFIC RAILWAY ------Railway Exchange Building, St. Louis, Mo. NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILWAY - Railroad Building, Fifth and Jackson Streets, St. Paul, Minn. SAN PEDRO, Los ANGELES & SALT LAKE RAILROAD - Pacific Electric Building, Los Angeles, Calif. SOUTHERN PACIFIC COMPANY ------Flood Building, San Francisco, Calif. UNION PACIFIC SYSTEM ------Garland Building, 58 East Washington Street, Chicago, 111. WABASH RAILWAY --- -- Railway Exchange Building, St. Louis, Mo. WESTERN PACIFIC RAILWAY _____._--- Mills Building, San Francisco, Calif. For information about sojourning and traveling within the National Parks write to the Depart­ ment of the Interior for the Information circular of the Park or Parks in which you are interested.

REMEMBER THAT ROCKY MOUNTAIN BELONGS TO YOU IT IS ONE OF THE GREAT NATIONAL PLAYGROUNDS OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE FOR WHOM IT IS ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR PRESS OF CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS, NEW YORK